Ankle brace

ABSTRACT

An ankle support device for use principably by basketball players during a game, or by other athletes, the device consisting of a leather sheath that wraps around the arch of a person&#39;&#39;s foot and the lower part of the leg, the sheath having lace openings for use by a pair of laces for tightly securing the device to the person and the sheath having a soft pliable sole that extends under the heel of the person.

United States Patent [191 J aster June 18, 1974 1 ANKLE BRACE [76] Inventor: Lawrence J. Jaster, 702 M. Second St., Bellevue, Iowa 52301 [22] Filed: Apr. 10, 1973 {21] Appl. No.: 349,704

[52] US. Cl. 36/2.5 R, 36/8.1

[51] Int. Cl A431) 5/08 [58] Field of Search 36/2.5 R, l, 1.5, 8.1, 36/45 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,155,599 4/1939 Hutchison 36/1.5

2,179,124 11/1939 .lesnig 36/8.1

2,332,252 10/1943 Payne 36/2.5 R

6/1956 Lyon 36/2.5 R 8/1972 Creamer 36/8.l

Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James C. Nemmers ABSTRACT An ankle support device for use principably by basketball players during a game, or by other athletes, the device consisting of a leather sheath that wraps around the arch of a persons foot and the lower part of the leg, the sheath having lace openings for use by a pair of laces for tightly securing the device to the person and the sheath having a soft pliable sole that extends under the heel of the person.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing; Figures ANKLE BRACE This invention relates generally to ankle supports.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an ankle brace which is to be used by basketball players during a game.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ankle brace which gives better support and which is more durable than the use of tapes that are taped around an ankle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an ankle brace which will prevent an athlete from his ankles tiring, becoming sore or even strained.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an ankle brace which is suitable for use by other athletes in different fields of sports.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an ankle brace which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objecs will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents an ankle brace, according to the present invention, wherein there is a leather sheath 11 that resembles the appearance of a tall boot which has no heel or toe portion, the leather sheath 11 being adaptable for being wrapped around an arch of a persons foot as well as around the lower portion of the persons leg. The sheath includes longitudinal edges 12 each one of which is provided with a series of grommeted openings 13 so that the edges can be brought together after the sheath is wrapped around the rear of the persons leg and under the arch, and the grommeted openings receiving shoe laces for securing the device in position. It is to be noted that the sheath includes a lower portion 14 that wrapps around the foot arch, and a portion 15 that wraps around the persons lower leg. Accordingly the sheath is of a generally L- shaped configuration when viewed from a side.

The under side of the portion 14 is secured to a soft pliable leather sole 16 that extends rearwardly under the heel of the persons foot. The lower end of the portion 15 however does not engage the rear portion of the sole 16, there being provided a cut out 17 therebetween. Thus the rear portion of the sole 16 forms a flap.

In operative use, a first shoe lace 18 is threaded through the lowermost grommeted opening 13a, and the shoe lace is laced as far as the opening 13b. The lace is then pulled tight and tied with a bow. A second shoe lace 19 is then laced through the grommeted opening Be the lace 19 then being laced through all of the openings up to the top grommeted opening 13d where after being pulled tight, the ends of the lace are tied in a bow. Thus two separate laces are utilized.

In operative use, the athlete wears the ankle brace around his foot and leg and then inserts his foot into a shoe or slipper. If preferred, the athlete can have a sock worn over the ankle brace so that it will not show visibly to spectators.

Thus there is provided an ankle brace that serves a useful purpose and is superior to the conventional practice of taping a persons ankle.

What I now claim is:

l. A removable ankle brace comprising a sheath of material of sufficient rigidity and strength to support the ankle during physical activity and of sufficient flexibility to conform to the wearers anatomy which it covers, said sheath when worn extending around the rear side of the wearers ankle and lower leg upwardly along cilitate placement of the brace on the wearer, and adjustable means to join the separable edges of said sheath to secure said brace in place on the wearer and thereby support the wearers ankle.

2. The removable ankle brace of claim 1 in which said separable edges are each provided with a plurality of spaced apart grommeted openings, and said adjustable means is a pair of laces extending through said openings back and forth from one edge to the other. 

1. A removable ankle brace comprising a sheath of material of sufficient rigidity and strength to support the ankle during physical activity and of sufficient flexibility to conform to the wearer''s anatomy which it covers, said sheath when worn extending around the rear side of the wearer''s ankle and lower leg upwardly along the leg a sufficient distance to support the ankle, said sheath having a lower portion that extends forwardly and downwardly to cover the underside of the arch of the foot while leaving the heel and toe exposed, a sole portion extending rearwardly from the lower portion of said sheath so as to extend completely beneath the wearer''s heel without covering the sides of the heel, said sheath having separable edges extending from top to bottom along the entire extent of forward side to facilitate placement of the brace on the wearer, and adjustable means to join the separable edges of said sheath to secure said brace in place on the wearer and thereby support the wearer''s ankle.
 2. The removable ankle brace of claim 1 in which said separable edges are each provided with a plurality of spaced apart grommeted openings, and said adjustable means is a pair of laces extending through said openings back and forth from one edge to the other. 